Chaos in Spain as 14 airports brace for strike action – including Canary Islands
Holiday chaos looms as strike action hits 14 Spanish airports, including Canary hotspots.
Holidaymakers heading to Spain are facing fresh travel disruption after air traffic controllers announced indefinite strike action affecting 14 airports, including key destinations in the Canary Islands.
The walkout, called by unions Union Sindical de Reguladores Aereos and Comisiones Obreras, is set to begin at midnight on April 17 and could cause widespread delays and cancellations.
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Airports impacted include popular holiday hotspots such as Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma and El Hierro, alongside mainland hubs including Seville, Madrid, Vigo and Jerez.
The strike targets control towers operated by private firm SAERCO, which manages services at a number of busy regional airports, particularly during peak travel periods.
Union leaders say the action has been triggered by long-standing concerns over staffing shortages, working conditions and safety risks. They claim years of staff cuts have left remaining workers under intense pressure, with insufficient rest and unpredictable schedules.
In a statement, unions warned that “aeronautical safety cannot be sustained” under current conditions, citing fatigue, stress and constant changes to working patterns as serious concerns.
They also accused the company of cancelling approved holidays, making last-minute shift changes and failing to provide clear schedules for mandatory breaks.
According to the unions, attempts to resolve the dispute through negotiations were unsuccessful, with meetings repeatedly postponed or cancelled and key concerns left unaddressed.
The strike adds to mounting disruption across Spanish airports, where passengers are already dealing with baggage handling walkouts and delays linked to new biometric checks.
Travellers have reported long queues of up to three hours at security, with some flights departing without passengers’ luggage and others missed entirely due to delays.
With Spain remaining one of the most popular destinations for British tourists, the latest strike threat is expected to cause significant disruption during the busy spring and summer travel period.
Passengers are being advised to check with airlines before travelling and allow extra time at airports as the situation develops.
